Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Boston-Globe Horn Book Awards at Simmons College. Since 1967, the prestigious Boston-Globe-Horn Book Awards have been granted to authors and illustrators whose work has been extraordinary. Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction. Two Honor Books are often named in each category. The winning titles must be published in the United States but they may be written or illustrated by citizens of any country.

This year’s Honor Books were:

Fiction: Chime, by Franny Billingsley

Anna Hibiscus, by Atinuke

Nonfiction: Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea,

And Air, by Stewart Ross; ill. By Stephen Biesty.

Can We Save the Tiger, by Martin Jenkins; ill. By Vicky White.

Picture Books: Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, by Joyce Sidman; ill. by

Rick Allen.

Pecan Pie Baby, by Jacqueline Woodson; ill. by Sophie Blackall.

The 2011 Boston Globe Horn Book Winners were:

Fiction: Blink & Caution, by Tim Wynne-Jones.

Nonfiction: The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism &

Treachery, by Steve Sheinkin.

Picture Book: Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, by Salley Mayor.

As a librarian for many years, it was exciting to see so many young people passionate about children's literature and sharing it with children (and adults!).

Monday, November 28, 2011

Our first two LEGO meetings happened this month (November 2011). 45 people enjoyed the experience of building vehicles from the many LEGO donations we received. Several people worked collaboratively! Take a look at some of the creations! Pick up one of our calendars OR look at our online calendar for future LEGO news!